National Wetland Centre Wales

Stretching over 450 acres on the Burry Inlet, this magnificent mosaic of lakes, pools and lagoons is home to countless wild species as diverse as dragonflies and little egrets. Plus over 600 of some of the world’s most spectacular ducks, geese, swans and flamingos, many so tame they feed from the hand.

The visitor centre is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the National Wetland Centre Wales. Families can have hours of fun in the indoor, interactive millennium discovery centre or take a trip up to the top of the tower for a 360 degree view of the site and the Loughor Estuary.

Or visitors can simply relax in the comfort of the estuary café, enjoying delicious home cooked food, panoramic views and amazing wildlife and find the perfect gift in the WWT shop.

A safe home for a collection of over 600 of the worlds most spectacular birds and many of the species that you'll see are rare or endangered. WWT are involved in breeding and conservation programmes to protect these species and their natural habitats.

Here you can feed Hawaiian geese (nenes), feast your eyes on a sea of pink Caribbean flamingos or visit one of our wonderful hides to see a multitude of wildlife native to these shores.

Covering 66 hectares in total, the reserve encompasses saltmarsh, freshwater lagoons and the millennium wetlands, a complex of pools, grassy banks and reedbeds. Surfaced paths wind through the reedbeds, taking visitors to hides such as the Welsh Water hide, donated by Welsh Water, and the impressive heron's wing hide.

It is a great place to see a wide range of waterbirds including pintail, shoveler, oystercatcher, shelduck, teal, black and bar-tailed godwits, curlew and snipe, as well as an increasing population of little egrets.Breeding birds on site include redshank, lapwing, reed warbler and reed bunting.

Water voles are abundant throughout the site and otters are occasionally seen, although the tell tale signs that they have been around are often present. The saltmarsh has international protection including a Site of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Ramsar site and a Special Protection Area.

Directions to the Centre - The National Wetland Centre Wales lies on the northern shore of the Burry Inlet facing the Gower Peninsula and is off the A484 to Swansea. To find us follow the duck signs off the M4 exiting at junction 48.

Residents and tourists in and around Llanelli can now enjoy improved transport links throughout the spring and summer season thanks to a new bus service being run between Llanelli and WWT National Wetland Centre Wales.

The new First Cymru service will operate on weekdays during school holidays from the 4 April to 12 September, 2009. In addition, it will run on Saturdays between these dates. The W1 ‘Duck Bus’ will make two trips from Llanelli, calling at both the bus and railway stations and will then return to town from the centre twice in the afternoon.

The ‘Duck Bus’ timetable is as follows: Llanelli Bus Station -11:20 Llanelli Rail Station -11:25 WWT - 11:30 Llanelli Bus Station -13:15 Llanelli Rail Station -13:20 WWT -13:25 WWT -13:30 Llanelli Rail Station - 13:35 Llanelli Bus Station -13:40 WWT -16:10 Llanelli Rail Station -16:15 Llanelli Bus Station -16:20 For bus timetable information or help in planning your journey please contact the Passenger Transport Unit on (01267) 231817 or email PublicTransport@carmarthenshire.gov.uk

By rail - The nearest station is in Llanelli, approximately two miles away.

By coach - Parking is free for coaches bringing visitors to the centre. Advance booking is strongly recommended.

By bike - The National Wetland Centre Wales is situated on the Celtic Trail Route 4.

By car - There is ample free parking for visitors arriving by car.

For more infomation on the centre visit - www.wwt.org.uk